Antique Pair Bronze Semi-nude Classical Ladies Sculptures / Bookends 19th Cent

This is a stunning antique pair of patinated bronze reclining Classical semi-nude sculptures of young ladies mounted on carved marble bases, circa 1880 in date.

These exceptionally sculptured bronze figures feature two beautiful youthful women sitting graciously with their legs crossed in a reclining pose on a rock that has an elevated back. These delightful and elegant Classical ladies wear an archaic cloth on their upper legs while they are nude from the upper thighs up - ladies in antiquity were depicted in such a way. Each figure twists her torso slightly to one side, their left and right hands rest on the rock and they have beautiful curly hair which is tied up on their heads.

These high-quality hot cast solid bronzes were produced by using the traditional "lost wax" process, otherwise known as the "cire perdue" method.

They are mounted on stunning carved brown-red marble bases in the form of naturalistic rocks and could be perfect also as bookends.

These incredible sculptures are truly a must-have for any serious collector of classical bronzes and beautiful pieces.

Condition:

In excellent condition. Please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 21 x Width 23 x Depth 11

Dimensions in inches:

Height 8.3 x Width 9.1 x Depth 4.3

Lost Wax Method

sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture.

In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.

Our reference: A1033

Internal Ref:

A1033

Date of manufacture : 1880